​We started our next big writing project this week! We will be writing a personal narrative about an outdoor adventure or experience. To get started, students annotated a completed narrative and analyzed the ways the writer had created an entertaining story. On Friday, we brainstormed possible topics and we will start writing next week. They are ready to go!

We read a tall tale in the reading anthology this week and found examples of what the character said, thought and did to show what he was like. Next week, students will learn how to contribute to a meaningful discussion about what they are reading and will practice by meeting in small group to discuss the tall tale.

Our 4M Smarties blog had a bumpy take-off at home this week and I am grateful for everyone’s patience as we try to figure out the best way to access the website. If your child was successful using their new Google address, they can continue logging in that way. If this has been tricky, I will send home instructions for logging in with a Join Code and new password. Thanks again for sticking with it and communicating about any problems you have had.

Math this week focused on making visual representations to explain math problems. We used fraction circles, fraction bars and Base-10 blocks to model fractions and decimals. There will be a test on Unit 3 on Thursday. A study guide will go home on Tuesday for students to review.

In science this week, students learned to make an electrical circuit and experimented with batteries and bulbs to see the effects of more batteries or more bulbs. They also tested many materials to decide if they were conductors or insulators.

Thanks to Mrs. Leone (Thomas’s mom) for helping with math games! Please email me if you are interested in helping with math games on a specific Friday (11:00- 12:00) but are unable to access the Google sign up sheet on this website.

Need some gift ideas for Christmas? Here are some of Mrs. Matthews favorite games that we have in the classroom!

Ask a Fourth Grader….* What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator?* How did you know that Stormalong was a tall tale?* What is the purpose of narrative writing?* How do you write 1/10 as a decimal? Is 0.01 bigger or smaller than 0.1?